The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: Bolt, Lever, and Pump Action

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 18, 2021, 02:41 PM   #1
mrt949
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2008
Posts: 1,692
Red dot sights on lever rifles

I have lever rifles that I have installed RED DOT SIGHTS
One is a marlin1894CSBL 357 MAG .
Other is a Henry 22 LR
Has anyone done this to their levers .
__________________
No Gun Big Or Small Does It All
mrt949 is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 04:03 PM   #2
9x19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 16, 1998
Location: Sherman, TX USA
Posts: 3,760
My Henry .357 carbine has a reflex sight on board... it works well for me.

__________________
Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
9x19 is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 05:05 PM   #3
HiBC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 13, 2006
Posts: 8,350
Its no doubt practical and effective.

After that,it boils down to aesthetics and preferences.

I believe our guns are one place we get to exercise our preferences, JUST BECAUSE!! No justification required.

You do it,your way.

I was given a beat up Rem model 81,in 300 Savage. Forend was broke,held on by a 1/4 20 round head screw. Front sight,bead broke off. Barrel shroud looked like it rode in the back of a 1950 Ford Pickup under some tire chains and a jack.
Rear sight,gone. A misaligned drill and tap for a receiver sight was done to the left side of the receiver. The safetylever was bent away from the receiver.

I gave it some love. Found a used barrel shroud,forend,safety,etc.Its not too bad,right now.

Original sights are all collectors items. Tang peeps $250-300. Original opens $50 plus.

Aesthetics? Some might say it would be a crime,just out of place....

But I have imagined using the factory drilled rear sight screws to attach a Red Dot. It would be a practical,effective choice,cheaper than collectable original sights. No gun modification. No harm done.

It would make a fine woods or hog setup.

But is it right for a Rem 81 as a classic? I'm conflicted there. My brain says its a good idea

But my "feelings" side says set it up with period appropriate sights. Even if it costs as much as the gun is worth.

I'll probably go with what makes a Rem 81 a Rem 81. But a red dot probably would make it a better hunting rifle.
HiBC is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 05:12 PM   #4
NoSecondBest
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 7, 2009
Location: Western New York
Posts: 2,736
For a short period of time I put a Turnbull side mount that he makes on an 1886 lever gun he did for me. I topped it with a Burris FF3 and played with it developing loads for the gun. At my personal range of 114 yards that gun would shoot five shot groups of 1.5” pretty regularly. I finally took it off and just went with more traditional sights on the gun. No reason not to do it if it helps you shoot better or your eyes require it due to age or any other reason. Someone’s doing it or Turnbull wouldn’t be selling the mounts. Note: its a no drill mount on a Win 1886 lever gun.
NoSecondBest is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 05:40 PM   #5
jetinteriorguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 28, 2013
Posts: 3,476
I’ve thought about it for my Henry’s, but decided on fiber optic sights instead. They work quite well, but mine are range toys and I don’t shoot past 100 yds. These are a .357 and .41 mag caliber.
jetinteriorguy is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 06:24 PM   #6
Hawg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,380
Whatever works for you, it's your gun. To me optics on a lever action is an abomination.
Hawg is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 08:56 PM   #7
ATCDoktor
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2006
Posts: 172
I put a Holosun on my Rossi Ranch hand that I converted to an SBR.

It’s chambered in 45 Colt and with its 12 barrel it’s sufficiently accurate for hunting medium sized game as long as I keep ranges inside 125 yards.


It works fine for range work but I just don’t cotton to them for hunting passed 50 yards.

At my age I need a bit of light gathering and magnification for hunting so I’ll bounce back and forth between the red dot and an old weaver 2X pistol scope.

Pictured suppressed with the weaver sitting next to a late model Marlin 1894 CST chambered in 38/357 magnum.
ATCDoktor is offline  
Old June 18, 2021, 09:34 PM   #8
9x19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 16, 1998
Location: Sherman, TX USA
Posts: 3,760
Yeah, my rifle has a low powered variable scope. It serves me better at longer ranges.

__________________
Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
9x19 is offline  
Old June 22, 2021, 06:28 AM   #9
stagpanther
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 2, 2014
Posts: 12,973
If it works for you--why care what anyone else thinks? if they had a radar guidance system for Hawkins muzzleloaders--I might give it a go.
__________________
"Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill
I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!
stagpanther is offline  
Old June 22, 2021, 08:52 AM   #10
eflyguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 1, 2021
Posts: 335
I was going to say, no different than putting on a 'scope. Who cares what it looks like.

My red-dot is a little tall and bulky for a compact lightweight rifle, so I picked up a reflex for that purpose, similar to reply #1.
eflyguy is offline  
Old June 22, 2021, 11:10 AM   #11
pete2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,610
A Red Dot on a lever gun will make you shoot better but messes up the image. Red Dot would be better on a 10/22 and no sweat on the image. Mainly it's your gun do as you wish!
pete2 is offline  
Old June 22, 2021, 04:50 PM   #12
mrt949
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2008
Posts: 1,692
Quote:
Originally Posted by pete2 View Post
A Red Dot on a lever gun will make you shoot better but messes up the image. Red Dot would be better on a 10/22 and no sweat on the image. Mainly it's your gun do as you wish!
It's for a home defense gun.
__________________
No Gun Big Or Small Does It All
mrt949 is offline  
Old June 22, 2021, 06:51 PM   #13
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,976
I've found a compact, lightweight scope with a low fixed power or 1-4X variable at the same price point does everything better than a dot sight. Close, far, low light, EVERYTHING. With all the dot sights I've tried I found that in low light you can see the dot, but not the target. A low powered scope is just as fast to get on target too.

When you get into the $400+ dot sights maybe, but I've been disappointed in everything I've tried.

I prefer irons on a lever, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do and the smaller optics don't look too bad. I don't like to see a lever gun with a large powerful scope on them.

From a practical perspective any optic beats irons every time. If someone actually plans to use a lever action in a situation where it has to work then add an optic. If you're using it for nostalgic reasons leave the optics off.
__________________
"If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong"

Winston Churchill
jmr40 is offline  
Old June 23, 2021, 12:52 PM   #14
geologist
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 8, 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 247
Does anyone have a recommmendation for a lightweight compact 1-4X illuminated variable?
geologist is offline  
Old June 23, 2021, 12:54 PM   #15
mrt949
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2008
Posts: 1,692
Leupold i have a ar mod1 1.5x4
__________________
No Gun Big Or Small Does It All
mrt949 is offline  
Old June 23, 2021, 02:25 PM   #16
eflyguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 1, 2021
Posts: 335
Quote:
Originally Posted by geologist View Post
Does anyone have a recommmendation for a lightweight compact 1-4X illuminated variable?
Yup:
https://muelleroptics.com/products/m...d-shot-1-4x24/
eflyguy is offline  
Old June 23, 2021, 03:13 PM   #17
geologist
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 8, 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 247
That Leupold at less than 10 oz looks good.
geologist is offline  
Old June 23, 2021, 07:05 PM   #18
eflyguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 1, 2021
Posts: 335
That Leupold was discontinued some time back. Its replacement is 13oz (and $700).. but, certainly a candidate.
eflyguy is offline  
Old June 24, 2021, 10:10 PM   #19
kilotanker22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2012
Location: North Central, PA
Posts: 2,127
I believe that a red dot on a lever gun is a great idea. They are lightweight and easy to use. Although, a LPVO or fixes 3 or 4 power scope would be better for hunting I think.
__________________
“We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace.
– St. Augustine
kilotanker22 is offline  
Old June 25, 2021, 01:11 PM   #20
pete2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,610
Home defense, 15 to 30 feet, open sights, point and shoot.
pete2 is offline  
Old June 25, 2021, 07:47 PM   #21
Pahoo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 16, 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 8,783
"Your Rifle, your money."

Quote:
Whatever works for you, it's your gun. To me optics on a lever action is an abomination.
Somewhat have to agree and it depends on the rifle. Can't keep up on the new generation and it matters not. But take a Vintage Marlin, I limit these to the older steel tube Weavers. But as Hawg said; "Your Rifle, your money."

How about a TC Hawken model M/L with a laser? Yep, seen one. .......

Be Safe !!!
__________________
'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.
Pahoo is offline  
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2025 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06860 seconds with 10 queries